Our King of Solidarity: Reflections of the Solemnity of Our Lord Jesus Christ, King of the Universe

Beloved parishioners,

This weekend the church celebrates the Solemnity of Jesus Christ the Universal King. This feast was inaugurated for the universal church by Pope Pius XI in 1925 with the encyclical letter, Quas Primas. Pope Pius attributed the evils of the time to the fact that men had cast Jesus and his holy laws out of their lives. These had no place in people’s private or political lives. This rejection of Jesus as Savior and the refusal to come under his reign will continue to make peace elusive. This feast was therefore to call all people to acknowledge Jesus’ supremacy as King over all of creation and to submit to his kingship. For the pope, this is the solution to the problems of the world.

The idea of a king, as we glean from our First reading, is the idea of a shepherd. Jesus is both shepherd and king. As a shepherd, he cares for the flock, defends them and leads them to greener pastures. As king, he rules over his people and defends them from foreign aggression and provides for their basic needs. Thus, Jesus is the model for all kings and leaders. He does not lord it over his subjects but lays down his life so that they might live. He endured the sufferings that came to him if only those he had come to save were spared those sufferings. Our celebration today therefore affords us the opportunity to once again reflect on the kingship of Jesus as distinguished from any earthly kingship. In order to enjoy true and lasting peace, we must become subjects of the kingship of Jesus.

This king of ours is one who is, and stays in solidarity with us. While on the cross, he does not declare his innocence or effect his own liberation but remains on the cross in solidarity with those who were suffering the same fate. This display of solidarity, this companionship with the two criminals on the cross as they suffered for their crime prompted one of them to want to be with Jesus wherever he was. This desire to be with Jesus helped him over come his fear of death. And Jesus, seeing that he was worthy of life grants him his desire. He said, “Amen, I say to you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” This criminal sees the kingship of Jesus, not the mockery that Pilate or the Roman soldiers made of him. And he desired to be in his kingdom. Do we recognize the supremacy of Jesus over our lives, whether private or public? Do we allow the laws of Jesus to guide our lives and our politics? If we seek true and lasting peace, we must allow ourselves be led and shepherded by Jesus our true king.

Next weekend we begin the season of Advent. It is a season of preparation for Christmas and also a time of expectation of the Lord’s coming at the end of time. May it be a season of spiritual renewal for all of us.

May Jesus bless you, and may Our Lady protect you!